LIFE'S A DRAG

Horrific murder of a well-known prostitute changed the way police and authorities treated sex workers and spelled end for Glasgow's notorious red light district

- NORMAN SILVESTER

JUST over a decade ago sex was sold quite openly on the streets of Scotland.

Young women usually heroin addicts - would gather at night to sell their bodies, usually to feed their habit and often that of a partner.

But now much of that sex work has moved online with women advertising their services from flats, hotel rooms and even AirBnB apartments.

However until recently hundreds of women across Scotland could be seen at night standing on street corners seeking out punters' custom.

Edinburgh, Aberdeen and Dundee had distinctive red light districts.

The biggest was in Glasgow - known as the Drag - which attracted customers from far and wide. It was situated close to the city's financial district and ran from Blythswood Square down to Cadogan Street and then on to Argyle Street As financiers and office workers poured out on to the streets at the end of the day they would be replaced by a different kind of workforce.

From 6pm until the early hours the women would ply their trade. At one stage it was estimated that 850 women worked in The Drag, of which 85 per cent were heroin addicts.